Method for cutting of paper and similar materials



v R X E. LOHRMANN METHOD FOR CUTTING OF PAPER AND SIMILAR MATERIALS Original Filed Sept. 9, 1963.

United States Patent 3,419,706 METHOD FOR CUTTING OF PAPER AND SIMILAR MATERIALS Erich Lohrmann, Dusseldorf, Germany, assignor to Jagenberg Werke Akt.-Ges., Dusseldorf, Germany Continuation of application Ser. No. 307,542, Sept. 9,

1963. This application Jan. 3, 1968, Ser. No. 695,526 Claims priority, application Germany, Sept. 25, 1962,

J 22,431 4 Claims. (Cl. 219-384) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE .This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 307,542 filed Sept. 9, 1963 and now abandoned.

r This invention relates to the art of cutting paper and similar materials.

More particularly, the invention relates to a method for cutting paper and like materials into smaller shapes in single or multi-layers, and is especially efficacious for cutting moving paper webs in longitudinal and transverse cutting machines.

The customary practice of cutting paper involves the employment of mechanically functioning means in the form of knives or similar cutting tools, which in their design and operation are adapted to the respective cutting conditions. These cutting conditions are determined not only by the properties of the material to be cut, but also the cutting principle to be applied, the cutting behaviour of the material and of the cutting tools exert a decisive influence on the course of the cutting operation. Especially, the processing of continuously advancing paper webs in roll cutting machines and transverse cutting machines requires large costs since the cutting means, which consist of upper and lower knives, constitute large masses in motion which, particularly in the case of high speed machines cause harmful vibrations and rapid wear.

A special problem is presented by the transverse cutting of moving webs with rotating knife rollers insofar as the knives, at the moment of cutting, must have a rotational speed which corresponds to the feed speed of the moving paper web. This requirement must be met even if the length of sheets to be cut is larger or smaller than the developed projection of the curved knife. This factor necessitates the acceleration or deceleration of the knife rollers during rotation. The acceleration and deceleration of relatively large massesrmust not exceed an admissible rate because of the forces occurring whereby there is effected a limitation of the machine performance.

One object of the present invention is to provide a method of cutting paper and similar material which eliminates the abovementioned difficulties existing in the art.

To solvethe problem, the invention broadly comprehends the utilization of light rays of high energy density in lieu of the customary mechanical means for cutting the paper or like material.

More particularly, a separation of the paper in accordance with the intended cutting course is then achieved by,

means of a sharply clustered, preferably monochromatic light ray which is focused by an optical system in. the zone or area of separation. The production of the light ray for this purpose is predicated on the so-called Laser effect, with the laser material, which can be, for example,

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a ruby, a gas, or some other suitable medium having the property of absorbing under certain conditions the light rays emanating from an external source intensifying the rays and again reflecting the rays in the form of monochromatic sharply clustered light.

The application of the Laser effect occurs in such a fashion that for accomplishing a progressive separation of the paper, a motion or movement determining the intended cutting course or path is imparted either to the light ray or to the paper. The motion or movement behaviour of the light ray or of the paper provides the condition for the solution of a multiplicity of cutting problems. For instance, stackedv paper gap be sub-divide d into smaller shapes, or wide paper rolls can be divided into narrower rolls with either the paper to be cut or the light ray effecting a movement during the cutting cycle.

However, a preferred field of application is the longitudinal and transverse cutting of continuously advancing paper webs either in single or multiple laggrs in longitudinal and transverse cutting machines or in similar paper processing machines.

In the longitudinal cutting of the moving paper web,(\ there are provided one or more fixedly disposed ra eneratorswcirarvmig'n'd as to be adjustable and A lockable with the paper web being movable through the effective zone or area. For the transverse cutting, the light a cats light generator. It is also possible to effect a move- 3 ment connotes-a reflector which can be a polygonal rotating reflector and by means of which the speed and direction of the light ray can be controlled.

The features of the present invention are illustrated diagrammatically and purely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing illustrating equipment for the longitudinal slitting of a paper web.

As shown on the drawings, a paper web 2 being drawn from a reel 1 is passed over a guide roller 3 and is wound on to a reel 5 supported on two carrier rollers 4. At a point between the guide roller 3 and the winding-on reel 5 a Laser device 6 is provided in such manner that a lightb'e'i'mssed by a lens 7 is brought into focus at a point 9 coincident with the paper web 2 so as to exert a cutting action on the paper web and whereby the paper web is slit longitudinally as it is wound off the reel 1 and on to the reel 6. lt s hould gfncourse be pnderstood tha the zsae as euinazsrrssentsma numstructional'e'xample oiequipmentcwhich can ,be designed ifi ae'csraanee wun e present-invention. since obviously thecutting action obtained by the concentration of light beam from a 'l as'e'r' deviEe can be applied in many yvay s, for example" in web 'slitting andre-reeling apparatus, and also. is coniu ction withjross-cutting machines for dividing a web of material into separate sheets, a r 1 d withicombined apparatus "foi'i longitudinal .slittingaofa web of paper and thereaftef cutting itinto sheet pieces.

What is claimed is:

1. A method 'of cutting paper and similar materials, comprising the steps of directing atleast one coherent light ray of high energy density along a selected. separation path of the paper to be cut, said directing step comprising focussing said light ray along such selected separation path, and imparting a relative control movement between the focussed light ray and the paper to be cut.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 and said last mentioned step comprisingefi'ecting an oscillating move- 3 ment of the light ray substantially transverse to the direction of movement of the paper for. providing a transverse separation of the paper.

3. A method for cutting paper and similar materials comprising the steps of locating at least one high density energy coherent light ray generating means relative to a path of movement of the paper, and effecting relative movement between the light ray generating means and the paper for determining the cutting path of the ray emanating from the light ray generating means.

4. A method for cutting paper and similar materials comprising the steps of locating at least one high energy coherent density light ray generating means relative to a path of movement of the paper, operably relating an optical system to said light ray generating means between the same and such path, and eflecting relative movement between the optical system and the paper for determining the cutting path of the ray emanating from such light ray generating means.

References Cited IEWELL H. PEDERSEN, Primary Examiner.

W. L. SIKES, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

